Conformally flat generalized Ricci recurrent spacetimes and curvature-squared gravity

Abstract

First, we illustrate that a conformally flat generalized Ricci recurrent spacetime is a perfect fluid spacetime. As a consequence, we prove that such a spacetime represents a dust matter fluid, stiff matter and dark energy era under certain restrictions on the Ricci scalar. Then we establish that such a spacetime is a Robertson–Walker spacetime. Also, we note that in a conformally flat generalized Ricci recurrent spacetime, the fluid is shear-free, vorticity-free and its flow vector is hypersurface orthogonal. We investigate a conformally flat generalized Ricci recurrent spacetime as a solution of curvature-squared gravity theory. In this study, various energy conditions in terms of the Ricci scalar are examined and state that the Universe is in an accelerating phase and satisfies the weak, null, dominant, and strong energy conditions.